For the Geek in all of us

Day: November 21, 2012

Thanks to S&S, I have FIVE copies of The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst to give away!

About the book:

Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her.

Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed…

Entering is easy! Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries by following. US addresses only, please.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

In stores December 2012

Kendall Morgan is a human bloodhound. Spending her childhood hunting relics with her ambitious archeologist father, she knew the two of them shared a sixth sense for the history and location of objects—sometimes even people. What she didn’t know was that their paranormal gift could ultimately be their undoing.

After the tragic plane crash that killed her father as well as her childhood best friend, Kendall dedicated her life to finding and protecting relics. When mysterious, sexy billionaire Nathan Larraby hires her for his latest expedition—the search for four powerful relics —she’s thrown into a world of high-octane danger. He sends brooding mercenary Jake Stone to watch Kendall’s back, but he may have created danger of a different kind.

As the team chases down clues, a man called the Reaper makes a play for the artifacts and will stop at nothing to put them to his own sinister use. What’s worse is that Nathan hasn’t told the whole story, and the dark secrets he’s keeping could cost them the mission…and their lives.

Cate Lord dropped by the virtual offices for a chat about her book Lucky Girl. Check out what she has to say, and then enter for a chance to win a copy!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Cate Lord] Wife, mother, slave to two cats, and food addict.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Lucky Girl?

[Cate Lord] It’s a fun, flirty romantic comedy that will make you laugh as well as tug on your heartstrings. The heroine, twenty-nine-year-old Jessica Devlin, was devastated to discover her fiancé’s infidelity just months before their wedding. Single and heartbroken, Jess takes an overdue vacation from her job as beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine and flies to England to be maid-of-honor in her cousin’s wedding.

Jess is worried about the trip. Her beautiful cousin is getting the happily-ever-after Jess wanted so badly. There’s also the embarrassing episode that happened two years ago after Jess’s grandfather’s funeral; it involved an English pub, too many drinks, an overflowing of grief for her grandfather, and a handsome Brit who held her in his arms and comforted her while she bawled.

Of course, Jess believes there’s zero chance of her running into James Bond gorgeous Nick Mondinello again—but guess who’s at the wedding? It’s an awkward situation, for sure. Jess resolves to avoid Nick, since but fate keeps throwing her and Nick together. She has to wonder: Nick wouldn’t be interested in a Plain Jane gal like her, would he?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Cate Lord] Some books are gifts from the creative muse. Lucky Girl was one of them. It’s very loosely based on a year I spent studying in England—the year I met the tall, sexy-voiced, charming Brit who became my husband. It was one of the most exciting, life-changing years of my life, and being able to channel a few of my own experiences into the character of Jess was a lot of fun and brought back some wonderful memories.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Jess?

[Cate Lord] Quirky, sensitive, and adventurous.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Jess had a theme song, what would it be?

[Cate Lord] Probably a theme song to one of the James Bond movies. Jess secretly aspires to be a sexy spy girl. Readers will meet ruby-lipped Chicky Dee in the book.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Nick won’t leave the house without.

[Cate Lord] His cell phone. He wouldn’t want to miss a call from Jess.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Nick’s bedroom?

[Cate Lord] Crackers. Not fun when they get in the sheets.
His laptop. The bedroom isn’t a place for work, only play.
Giraffes. They belong in a zoo.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Cate Lord] My influences come from all around me: things my daughter says or does; documentaries I watch on TV; magazine articles I stumble upon while waiting in doctor’s offices; exhibitions at museums; conversations with my friends. Day-to-day life is full of inspiration.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Cate Lord] A cup of good organic coffee (top priority!). Dagoba organic chocolate. One of my kitties, curled up in his bed nearby, keeping me company.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Cate Lord] There are too many to pick just one. I am constantly in awe of the great books available.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Cate Lord] A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I absolutely loved that book when I was a child. I still have my original, beaten up copy and I plan to keep it forever.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Cate Lord] I love to cook and bake (and my family tells me I’m good at both, which is nice to hear!). If I have free time, I’ll often make a new recipe that I’ve found in one of my magazines to see how my family likes the dish. I am always eager to find a “keeper” for my recipe file. I also enjoy gardening, walking on the local nature trail, watching movies and favorite TV series with my husband and daughter (Once Upon a Time and Monk are what we’re watching right now), cuddling with my kitties, visiting museums and art galleries, shopping at the local farmers’ markets, and spending a day now and again at the mall having lunch and clothes shopping with my daughter.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What’s the first thing that went through your mind when you found out that Lucky Girl was a 2012 Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice Award winner?

[Cate Lord] At first, I was numb with shock. Within a few seconds, I was totally, completely thrilled! There’s nothing more gratifying to me than knowing that readers love my book. Thank you, readers! I am still pinching myself about my award, actually.